LAKE WORTH — The rash of car thefts sweeping the area has not skipped this city.

To try to halt the growing problem, police officer Ed Kimberly examined February crime reports to look for a pattern.

Most car thefts last month occurred in the dark in residential areas and without the use of force, Kimberly found.

Of the 23 cars stolen in February, 18 were recovered in locations as scattered as Miami, West Palm Beach and within three blocks of the victim`s home, he said.

``The thieves could have been on a joy ride. Or they might have been nervous they would get caught or found they could not sell the car. Or they could have seen a police officer drive by and turn around, so they ditched the car because they were afraid he noticed them,`` Kimberly said.

From these abandoned cars, police can determine the theft method, Kimberly said.

Only one of the 18 cars was hot-wired. Two of them were taken by the ``popped ignition`` technique, in which the ignition is pulled out and wires are twisted.

Forty-eight percent involved no force, either by using the keys in the ignition, a spare key hidden in a hide-a-key box, or by making keys on the spot, he said.

And 40 percent of the cars were taken by cutting the bottom of the steering column and twisting wires, he said.

More than half the thefts, or 56.5 percent, occurred in residential areas.

Dixie Highway was the scene of 34.8 percent of the thefts.

The remaining 8.7 percent occurred in business areas.

Most car thefts took place on Mondays and Fridays. About 35 percent occurred on Monday; 17.4 percent on Tuesday; 8.7 percent on Wednesday; none on Thursday; 21.7 percent on Friday; 8.7 percent on Saturday and 8.7 percent on Sunday.

Many car thieves wait until dark.

Thirty-nine percent of the thefts happened between midnight and 4 a.m.; 26 percent between 8 p.m. and midnight; 8.7 percent between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.; 8.7 percent between noon and 4 p.m.; 13 percent between 8 a.m. and noon; and 4.3 percent between 4 a.m and 8 a.m.

There were 226 auto thefts in 1983, 165 in 1984 and 176 in 1985.

So far this month, there have been 15 cars stolen.

The February auto thefts added up to 23. If that rate continues, 1986 will be the biggest year ever for auto thefts, with a projected total of 276.

CAR MODELS STOLEN IN FEBRUARY

VEHICLES THEFTS

Chevrolet 40.9%

Buick 18.2%

Pontiac 18.2%

Ford 13.6%

Mercury 4.5%

Toyota 4.5%

Source: Lake Worth Police Department reports.

TIPS TO PREVENT CAR THEFTS:

Park in well-lighted places.

Remove keys from ignition and from elsewhere in car.

Lock doors.

Those with driveways should park their cars as close to their house as possible.

Those with carports and garages should park there. Lock garage doors.

Two-car households should use one car to block in the other, so both cars are not stolen simultaneously.

Consider installing a burglar alarm system or one of the foolproof locking devices, such as a $30 bar that locks the steering wheel to the brake pedal.